The School of Chemistry at Wits University in South Africa's (SA) local large-scale production of ionisable lipids, secured a $388 thousand grant to develop vaccine-enabling compounds derived from cashew nutshell liquid, a by product of the cashew industry that is abundant across Africa.

This breakthrough positions Wits and SA as a leader in developing bio-renewable materials for mRNA vaccines.  It also supports the African Union's target of producing 60 percent of the continent's vaccines locally by 2040. Currently, Africa produces only one-percent of the vaccines it uses.

Lulu Gaboo spoke to  the Director of the Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit at Wits University Professor Patrick Arbuthnot.

The School of Chemistry at Wits University in South Africa's (SA) local large-scale production of ionisable lipids, secured a $388 thousand grant to develop vaccine-enabling compounds derived from cashew nutshell liquid, a by product of the cashew industry that is abundant across Africa.
This breakthrough positions Wits and SA as a leader in developing bio-renewable materials for mRNA vaccines. &nbsp;It also supports the African Union's target of producing 60 percent of the continent's vaccines locally by 2040. Currently, Africa produces only one-percent of the vaccines it uses.
Lulu Gaboo spoke to &nbsp;the Director of the Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit at Wits University Professor Patrick Arbuthnot.

Fast-paced news and current affairs updates, dealing with topical issues & breaking stories.

Fast-paced news and current affairs updates, dealing with topical issues &amp; breaking stories.

Advertisement